underradar

My wife and I and our two kids (both in their early 20s) are traveling to Croatia in June for a bike trip. We will arrive in Zagreb three days before we meet up with the trip and are looking to make the best use of our time. The bike trip starts at Split and heads immediately to Hvar and Brac, and ultimately south to Dubrovnik, so I am focusing on the areas that won't be part of our bike trip, namely near Split to the north. We will have a car at least until we get to Split.

The current plan is to fly into Zagreb around lunchtime and drive to the Plitvice area. I figure we will get to Plitvice around 4pm or so. If time (and alertness) allows, we may try to spend a couple of hours in the park - it closes at 7pm. We will stay at a hotel near the park. The next morning we will finish the park and then head to the coast. So the time we are looking to address is the rest of this second day and the third day, We have a hotel reservation in Split for both nights but could change that if there is someplace else we should be thinking about seeing that would be too far from Split to drive back to at night (i.e., Zadar?).

My thinking is that we see Zadar on the second day, stay for sunset and then either drive to Split or stay in Zadar. The third day is open, except that we need to stay in Split to meet up with our trip the following morning.

Is Zadar worth the effort to see? If not, what would you recommend during the time we have? Are there good nearby beaches that we should be considering?

Thanks as always for your advice and insights.

yorkshire

You don't say where you are flying from. It's only two hours, but do you think you will feel up for that drive? Just putting it out there. I would do an hour drive, but two would be pushing it. I guess among four of you there should be someone less affected by sleep deprivation. Because the alternative is staying in Zagreb--not the highlight of the country compared to the stunning coast, but an underrated and pleasant city!
If that does not float your boat, then I'd look at Zadar's environs and decide if it merits spending the night. You could add Krka park. On the way to Split, Sibenik has an impressive cathedral. Trogir, just adjacent to Split, is a cute and tiny town. I'd probably move on to Split and rest up for the mountains you will be pedaling up! Omis, just south, has white water rafting.
There are some lakes inland from Split that I always though sounded interesting.
http://splitadventure.com/red-and-blue-lake/
The Split tourist website is pretty good:
http://www.visitsplit.com/en
enjoy!

underradar

Yorkshire,

Thanks for your reply. Two of us will be coming from the US and the other two from Paris. Someone should be up to the task of driving. My sense is that Krka park is similar to Plitvice, no? Does it make sense to do both?

yorkshire

I have only visited Plitvice, but what I have read about Krka makes me think I would like both. It is different and you can swim there. If choosing one though, I would make it Plitvice for sure.

experience_dalmatia

Your trip plan sound awesome. I would recommend definitely tour to Krka Waterfalls, maybe combine that with visiting Bibich winery or Dalmatian House of Prosicutto close to Krka Waterfalls.

Here are the links:
http://experiencedalmatia.com/tour/krka-tour/

http://tasteofcroatia.org/wineries/bibich

Regards,

Mario